Free State have named a provisional 24-man squad for the U18 Craven Week in Paarl in July.

Five players from last year’s team are back in 2018 – prop Herman Aggenbag, lock Ofentse Maphuti, flanker De Wet Marais, scrumhalf Ross Braude and centre Wyclef Vlitoor.

ALSO READ: Hendrikse returns for Sharks U18

Free State will look to follow up last year’s excellent showing where they beat Boland and the Pumas before stunning Western Province 54-33.

As per the norm, Grey College dominates the team with 15 players, while Louis Botha has seven.

Loosehead prop Albert Annandale of Hoërskool Sentraal and scrumhalf Delano Williams of Hoërskool Jim Fouché have also made the cut.

Names to look out for include wing Ian Small-Smith, brother of Cheetahs centre William; hooker André-Hugo Venter, son of former Springbok André; and lock Danwich Beukes, son of former Free State captain Joe.

ALSO READ: Appolis back for Bulls at Craven Week

Free State –  15 Richard Kriel (Grey), 14 Brandon-Lee Adams (Louis Botha), 13 Wyclef Vlitoor (Grey), 12 Franco Smith (Grey), 11 Ian Small-Smith (Grey), 10 Zander du Plessis (Grey), 9 Ross Braude (Grey), 8 Werner Gouws (Grey), 7 WJ Steenkamp (Grey), 6 Samkele Mzayiya (Louis Botha), 5 Danwich Beukes (Grey), 4 Ofentse Maphuti (Louis Botha), 3 Albert Annandale (Sentraal), 2 André-Hugo Venter (Grey), 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Grey).
Subs: 16 Francois Boonzaaier (Louis Botha), 17 Lihle Lokwane (Louis Botha), 18 Herman Aggenbag (Grey), 19 Nhlanhla Senoamadi (Louis Botha), 20 De Wet Marais (Grey), 21 Delano Williams (Jim Fouché), 22 Jade Human (Grey), 23 Lehlonolo Lithabe (Louis Botha), 24 George Cronjé.

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images